Outlet assembly for hopper type railway cars



June 2, 1953 G. B. DoREY 2,640,438

I OUTLET ASSEMBLY FOR HOPPER TYPE RAILWAY CARS Filed Aug. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 2, 1953 G. B. DoRl-:Y

OUTLET ASSEMBLY FOR HOPPER TYPE RAILWAY cARs Filed Aug. 24, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 2 N Q -WF AS L@ L INVENTOR.` u Gear ab. X70/feg, BY

June 2, l953 G. B. DOREY oUTLET ASSEMBLY FOR HoPPER TYPE RAILWAY cARs 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 24, 1949 I rllIUlnTIw II l I I I l l E, QQ mm Aww INVENTOR. Mge, any,

LAM

4June 2, 1953 G. B. DoREY oUTLET ASSEMBLY FOR HoPPEE TYPE RAILWAY cARs 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug.` 24, 1949 I N V EN TOR.

Vwm/ @f Patented June 2, 1953 OUTLET: ASSEMBLY FQRLHOPEER TXPE RAILWAY CRS- George B. Dorey, Westrnomut; Quebec;- Canada;

assigner: toi Enterprise Railway- Equipmentl Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation olf-Illinois` Application August24, 1949,' Serial No. 112,032

'v Claims., (Cl. 1959282) This invention relates, generally, to railway cars .of the hopper. type, and it' has particular relation to the construction of outlet` assemblies therefor.

Among. the objects ofthis invention are: To provide a weatherproof: construction for' discharge outlet assembliesfor hopper type-railway cars; to extend`- three ofr the four wallslwhich dene'thethopper opening below'thegate which closes the opening; to. provide' ay frame aty the hopper opening on which the gate is slidably mounted' with threeof the four hopper walls telescoped* oventhe corresponding sides of the frame; toform the frame of Z-shaped members with the upper'A fiange` yextending inwardly" to provide. a runway for slidalolyv supportingv the gate and the. lowerF flange extending outwardly for attachment to. a removable chute;l toconstruct. the gate for use with asingle pinion adapted' to engage-a rack' locatedl centrally of the underside-ofthegate; to provide the gate withA a laterally-'opening recess onA three' sides for receiving'a compressible'gasket; to-proportion the entranceto the recess so that the-gasket must be compressed to enter orleave'Y the recess; andto provide a latch mechanismior the-gate Which'can be assembled as a unitv withtlieirame andarranged' to hold the -gate'in the closed position.

Other objects of thisv invention will, in part', be obvious and in part appearhereinafter.

This. invention 'is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and itcomprises thev features of" construction; combination of elementsv and arrangement of parts which Will be exemplifiedI in the constrimtion hereinafter set forth and the scope'of'the application' of which will loeY indicated' inz the appendedclaims.

For av more complete understanding` of" the nature and` scope' of this' invention', reference can be hadito the -following' detailed description; taken together `with the accompanying'drawings; in'which:

Figure l is a View, in side elevation, of theform of" hopper for a railway car with which'. the present invention is'l particularly adapted, to: be used:

Figurexaisa View, similar toiigure l, but showing' the outlet' assembly constructed .fini aca cordance `with this invention 1 assembiedwithf the hopper;

FigureS isv a' View; in frontelevation; off the hopper'andoutlet assembly shownin lgureeI 2:;

Figure' Ilis atop plan view-of tlie=outlet assent;- bly 'detachedL from the-hopper Figure 5"-is a detail sectionalview, at: an*` enlarged scale; taken alongV theV line 5;-12 of Figureil;

Figure 6"` is a" View; somewhat similar: to; Figure 5', and showing.'theY gate in the closed position:

Figure Tisaz detail sectional'vi'ew; at'anienf larged scale, taken along the line 15?--T' of Figure' 4i;

Figure 8 is a' bottomplaniview offthef gate;

Figure 9i isT a view; in/end elevation', of, the gate-shown in Figure 8;`

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectionalI View show@ ing liowrthe` gasket mustibe compresseso: asa to enterfthe recess therefor which; isY providedalong three .sides of? the gate; r and:

Figure' 11" is a viewlof. a' portion-ofthe^-ltubular gasket and showing how it'i is:v cut away' at the section` where it bends#aroundr the cornerrof.y the gate.:

Referringznowpartioularly. totFiguresf l; 2 `and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed thatthe reference:A character' lili designates, generally, a four sided hopper: Awhich has-inclined. floor seeti'ons'll; I2; I3; and l'rfor" directing lading.con; tained 'thereinto aniopeningfin the bottom which defined', inpartf, by. three Avertical hopperwall portions" I5',I IG; andv Il; The vertical hopper wall.: portions:- l5; IBI: and ll telescope withi or extend: over 'ant outlet assembly; shown' generally at i8, whiclirnayjbeV held infplaceby rivets-r lsor by welding or both. It-,will-be'noted thatuthe wall'portions Iig; lzand; Vl extendover the outlet assembly.' IS: andsthatfthereis no joint-therel between'fopenin'gv upwardly outside-:of the hopper lili" Rain',Y sleet; snow," etc., heatingv against-the sides` of thed'ropperl llfdoesmotf lodgeagainst anupper portionof.r the. outlet vassembly located outside ofthehopper-l as in prionconstructions, and thus a.- more weathertight. construction providedawhenthepresent invention is employed.

The 4detailsof constructionot. the hoppenassemloly.V arefshownmoreclearly in Eigures 4, 5', 6.and 7. of.. the drawings. It will;beobserv'ed that it isformed of a generally U-shaped castiron frame.. 20 which' has parallel sides, shown generally. at 2l and 22, interconnected' byan end 23; 'l'he sides 2| and 22 and the end`2'3 each have a Z-shaped'section. For example; as shown in Figure '7,' the sides 2l and! 2'2'5 have respectively a central vertical'section anol, an upper inwardly extending-'-flangeioirsheli 2l and- 2'8; and a lower' flangei or. wall 29= and 3A0 which :extends voutwardly to" provide fon receiving airemoyable supplementalichute -in a.` manner to i be described-presently. Likewise, as shownrn Figure 5zthefend' 23 hasacentral-vertical section 3|, a ange or shelf 32 extending inwardly, and an outwardly extending flange or wall 33. It will be understood that each Z-shaped side 2I and 22 and the end 23 are cast as an integral unit and that the central vertical sections thereof constitute a three sided frame having the upper fianges or shelves extending inwardly therefrom and the lower flanges or walls extending outwardly.

Opposite the end 23, as shown in Figure 5, there is an end member 35 which is welded between the central vertical sections 25 and 25 of the sides 2I and 22. The end member 35 has an inclined wall which constitutes an extension of the floor section I4. Also it has a horizontal wall 31 which defines the lower portion of an opening through which a gate (identified hereinafter) moves to close the opening through the hopper I0.

Underneath the inclined wall 35 of the end member 35 is a bracket 38 which may be held in place by rivets 39. The bracket 38 has a hori- Zontal flange 4I] which is arranged to receive a flange of a removable supplemental chute for holding the same in operative position underneath the hopper I9. For a similar purpose a. U- shaped clamp member 42, Figures 3, 4, and '2, is provided and secured by rivets 43 to a projecting portion 44 of the flange or wall 30. It will be observed that the upper arm of the U-shaped clamp member bears against the upper side of the projecting portion 44 while the lower arm is spaced therefrom for receiving thereabo-ve the flange of the removable supplemental chute. Other portions of the chute bear against the underside of the flange or wall 29 and 33 which have projecting portions 45 and 46 for receiving C-clamps to hold the supplemental chute in position as will be understood readily by those skilled in the art.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, the central vertical sections 25 and 25 of the sides 2I and 22 are provided with extensions 41 and 48, respectively, which extend upwardly underneath the inclined floor section I4 and are shaped to receive an angle 49 which preferably is secured thereto by welding. It will be observed that the longer flange of the angle 49 extends underneath the inclined iioor section I4 and Serves to support the same. i

It will be observed that a rectangular opening 5B is donned in part by the horizontal wall 31 cf the end member 35 and the lower edges 5I and 52 of the longer flange of the angle 49 and the lower edge of the inclined oor section I4 through which a gate, shown generally at 53, can be moved to close the opening at the bottom of the hopper IIJ. It will be observed that the gate 53 has a `flat upper surface 54, beveled sides 55 and 55 and a beveled front edge 51. As shown more clearly in Figure 8 o-f the drawings, bearing surfaces 59 and 5! are machined along the undersides of the gate 53 and are arranged to engage machined bearing surfaces 6I and 52 which yare provided on the upper sides of the iianges or shelves 21 and 23, Figure 7. In like manner a bearing surface 64 is machined along the underside of the gate 53 near the forward end for engaging a corresponding bearing surface 65 on the upper side of the ange or shelf 32, Figure 5. These bearing surfaces, being carefully machined, in part provide means for sealing the opening through the hopper I0 when the gate 53 is in the closed position as shown in Figure 6. Additional sealing means is provided as will be described in detail hereinafter.

As illustrated more clearly in Figure 8 of the drawings the underside of the gate 53 is provided with integrally formed depending ribs 1 I, 12, 13, and 14 whichV extend in the direction of movement of the gate. The depending ribs 1I and 12 define a side panel 15 while the depending ribs 13 and 14 denne another side pane-l 15. Transverse ribs 11 extend between the ribs 1I and 12 in panel 15 and between the ribs 13 and 14 in panel 16 to provide added strength for the gate 53. In addition, transverse ribs 18 and 19 extend along the rear and front edges of the gate 53 as illustrated. It will be observed that the ribs 1I and 14 are not parallel to the edges of the gate 53 but rather that they are inclined with respect thereto, being further apart near the rear edge of the gate 53 than they are at the forward edge. The purpose for this will be apparent presently.

With a View to providing additional sealing means for the gate 53 when it is in the closed position, a tubular gasket 82 is provided in a recess 83, Figure 10, which extends around three sides of the gate 53. The tubular gasket 82 is formed of compressible material such as a rubber hose and the construction of the recess 83 and the entrance thereto is such that the gasket 82' must be compressed, as shown in Figure l0, in order to enter or leave the recess 83. It will be observed that the recess 83 is formed in part by the bearing surface 59 and by an indented portion 84 immediately in back of this bearing surface. The rear wall of the recess 83 is formed by the depending rib 14 and the bottom wall is formed by the upper surface of a plate 85 which is secured to each of the panels 15 and 16 by welding as indicated at 85. Slots 81 are provided, as shown, in the outer edges of the plates 35 for facilitating the entrance and removal of the tubular gasket B2 into and out of the recess 83 and also to permit the welding along the ribs 1I and 14.

When the gate 53 is in the fully closed position, the outermost surface of the gasket 82 engages inner surfaces 89 and 90 of the flanges or shelves 21 and 28, Figure 7. These surfaces 89 and 90 are spaced furthest apart at the open end of the frame 2D, Figure 4, and are closest together along the other closed end so as todene a wedge shapedopening the sides of which are parallel to the depending ribs 1I and 14 which, las previously described, are also similarly inclined. In the closed position the gasket 82 is compressed between the outer surfaces of the ribs 1I and 14 and the inner surfaces 89 and 9B of the anges or shelves 21 and 28.

The portion of the tubular gasket 82 along the fro-nt edge of the gate 53 is arranged to engage the inner surface 92 of the flange or shelf 32 as shown more clearly in Figure 6. It will be noted that the tubular gasket B2 here is compressed between the forward surface of the transverse rib 19 and the inner surface 92 of the ange or shelf 32 when the gate 53 is closed.

With a view to facilitating the bending of the tubular gasket 82 around the corners of the gate 53 at the junctions between the rib 19 and the ribs 1| and 14, it is out away or slotted as indicated at 93 in Figure '11. This construction prevents bunching of the tubular gasket 82 at these portions thereof.

As shown in Figure '1 more clearly, the outside edges of the plates 85 underlie the flanges or shelves 21 and 28. The purpose of this construction is to prevent the gate 53 from being lifted Referring'agaim ytor FigureAVH 81 of' lthe drawings1 it= will:l beobservedthat' the'ereferencez chi-traster- Si?designates,` generally, a centraVpanel between' the-side panels 'I and- The'- central2 panel'I has the f depending' ribs 'FT-and 'I31 along fitssides and` `there between entendiracky teeth 98?: which Serve toprovide'- additionalreinforoer-nentv for tl'ie gate'955 Iniaddition; the-racliteeth 0G are arranged to engagea piniorr 015 Figure 5; for' moving' th'egate'- 53 t0 and; from` the' closedf po'- sition: The' pinion-01is faston -a' shaft9'ewhich" extends gtransverselythrough the-central vertical sections'25i and' 26 of thefsides-'2Iffand'f221 The ends'othe shaft 90'are-journaled in t'runnions SSi-and" which" are formedintegrallywitlrthe' sides Hand 22; Figure' As here shown; a* sleeve I0 I `is securedibya bolt or'pinH |02 to Vone end" of" the shaft" 98:' for* holding' it inL position.-

Any' suitabley head can"v beappliedi toA the'gothen enddofithe's'hafti adjacent the trunnion' Ifor' rotating it' to rotate the pinion 99| and move'the gate.,53`to and from' the closed-position.

As' shown in' Figure ofthe" drawings', rearward'ly"extendingV projections |03/ and lollare provided'for the sides 2| and 2210i the-'frame 20'. Theircross' section'is' they same' as described for the' sides' 2| and' 22-t as shown in Figure 7.' The` purpose` of the" rearwardly extending proj ections I03'-and |04 is to providefor 'supporting' the'gate 53in'the'open'position as' shown in Fig ure 5i It'will be'recalledthat'the:plates' 85, Figure 9; project belowv the` undersurface` or theegatef' 5S; In'order'toaccommodate the 'plates' 85, the horizontal ,wall'3'1` of the'endmember `35 isdepressed as indicated"4 at" |05" in Figures 51 and" '7.V

The' preferred* form ofrlatch' mechanisml for' holding 'the' gate 53 in the closed4 pos-ition'isfin'- dicated,l generally, at |08; This" latch mecha'- nism' is a unitary latch mechanism and can be assembled as'a unit'and' applied, to the frame 20 in the manner'to'be' described.

The unitary latch-mechanism" |08 comprises brackets |09, which may'be secured by,rv rivets |I0 to the rearwardly extending" portions |03' and |04 of. the sides 2| and 22'., The' brackets |09 have upstanding' bearing portions II I' to' which inside and' outsideV links I l2 and. H3 are' pivoted by means of rivets I l, ,Figures 45.5,. and: 6; Arms H5 and' I6' arepivoted by rivets' II'I between theouterendsof'the links i |2iand' H3. A bodily movable locking shaft II8 extends' be tween the-"arms Iliand H5. The locking shaft II8 can be moved manually by means of a handle I I9 which is formed integrally with the arm II 0. The lockingshaft' |18 is'arranged" to intert withY a transverse recess; mit; Figure 5, which extends along the rear, edge of thegate 53. The loc-king engagement. of.v the shaft H3 andthe recess |20 is illustratedmore clearly' in Eigure where the gate 53 isshow-n in the closed position.. In order to facilitate the movement o theshaft IIB bodily out of, locking engagement with .the recess I 20 andto. apcsition above thegate' 53,` an inclined surfacel! is provided Cun-each ofl the brackets |09, As;-,torqueis applied to the handle IIS yto swingxthe snai-tilt? bodily in a clockwise direction about the rivets II'I, the shaft IIB rides up the inclined surfaces I2I and thus is moved to a position above the gate 53 and out of the path of the forward wall of the recess |20. As shown in Figure 5 the locking shaft I|8 is held in the unlocked posi- 6 tion; so-fthat'theegate 533 can-11de: moved. from? tlre closed position shown`v i`n. Figuref- 6 `tcrthe open'I position shown iii-Figure Y Any suitable means can=v be*prmfid'edifor4 lock-l ing" the shaftI II in thefpesition` where -itr holds thegate153 closed' For-example; a holti' |22;v Fig--= ure- 6,y can be provided and slida-hlvy mounte'd within'the shaft II'8whieh:is'hollow. The bolt- I2'2" canh be-'\moved"1 by' al handleV |23; Figure 4';v which'- projects fronrV the bolt- |2325- outwardly/ through-aslot` IQIIinthcshat 8.1 Atitsiouter-r end"v the bolt I Z2) hasflanges-I extending radi'-` allyFw therefrom which are arranged'f to project' througha correspondingly' shaped opening` in: tlieoutside'link I|3". ,'A slot'` |21, Figure-15inone of= thefianges |-25 isi provided" for receiving?r a; conventional sealf soy as `t`opreventunauthor ized'k movement oftl'i'ebolt I2'2; aswillbeund`erstood readily:

Since'certain changescar'rbeniadeiirtlieeforeet going construction and diierent embodiments ofthe invention can be'ma'dewithout departing from-the spirit and lscope thereof,.itlisfinten'ded that all'- matter shown4 ina theaccompanyingl drawingsv an'dldescribed herei-nbeore 'shall b'esinh terpreted as'L illustrative andi' not in a1 limiting0V sense.

What` is' claimed"v as new-is:

1". In ka railwayw car" hopperfconstruction? in combination',- a-'four"sideelihopper deinin'g adis; charge opening'andcomprisingroor sections exe tending" downwardly for directing'- l`ading' theI car'- body' to sad opening; a gateisiidaldly mounted beneath one' of' the-sidesoffsaid'hoppen for closing; said* opening;, theA threeJ remaining'l sides of-said' hopper vformingY 'a slri'rt'and'extendling* uninterruptedly'below'said"gate, andi shelves: extending laterally inwardly from said* threeL sidesq in' supporting relation" to\ said gate;n said three sides',v of'said hopper d'eiining' an'v integral weatherproor" enclosure around' the" cori-espend-A ing three' sides'of'said': gate having no upwardiyl' opening joint" likely to permit entrance'oi" water and.l contamination of* thelading in Y the-hopper:

In'. a: railway, hopper construction, combination; a' foursid'ed hopper` defining' a` dise chargey opening'gand `comprising Y rloor^sections 'exe tending downwardly' for' directing ladingf from 'fre car' body-td'said opening; a gate' slidalcl'yi` mounted.'A beneath" one '-ofthe 'sides'` or saidihopper for closing said" opening; the three' remaining; sides.' of said .hopper'formi'ng a= skirt" and entendu;t inguninterruptedly beflowsaidfga'te; andaframe structure' having; vertical" wall" sections" secured: to theA inner surfaces" of" said"y threeY sides with'l shelves-j extending laterally' inwardly from' said' wallsectionsito. s-lidably'suppgort"said gate, said' three. sides' of said: v` hopper d'ening'- an' integral' weatherproof' enclosure.' around the correspond-L i'ngthree 'sides of said" gatev having" no upwardly openingljoint'likely tapermitentranceof water' and `contalninatim'ofitlie lading-y in the' hopper.'

3. In: an'crutletJ assembly' fcradoad containing' li'opper having" a' fursi-ded" discharge' opening' anclla horizontally: slidingv gat'ef for closing said opening;y in combination;v downwardly" inclined oor'sections'in said-hopper? fordirecting'lading tofsaidopening, lthree of"'said"floor'^sections l'iav ing, pnrtifmsharmingy slrirt' extending,uninteiel ruptedlydownwardly' vertically below'sai'd gate; and shelves extending laterally inwardly from said vertical portions of said floor sections in supporting relation to said gate, said portions of said three floor sections defining an integral weatherproof enclosure around the corresponding three sides of said gate having no upwardly opening joint llikely to permit entrance of water and contamination of the lading in the hopper.

4. In an outlet assembly for a load containing hopper having a four sided discharge opening and a horizontally sliding gate for closing said opening, in combination, downwardly inclined floor.

sections in said hopper `for directing lading to said opening, three of said floor sections having portions forming a skirt extending uninterruptedly downwardly vertically below said gate, and a frame structure having vertical wall sections secured to the inner sides of said vertical portions with shelves extending laterally inwardly from said wall sections to slidably support said gate, said portions of said threeiioor sections defining an integral weatherproof enclosure. around the corresponding three sides of said gatehaving no upwardly opening joint likely to permit entrance of water and contamination of the lading in the hopper.y

5. In an outlet assembly for a load containing ing three sides of said frame and gate having no upwardly opening joint likely to permit entrance of Water and contamination of the lading in thehopper.

6. In an outlet assembly for a load containing hopper having a four sided discharge opening and a correspondingly shaped sliding gate for closing said opening, a frame surrounded on three sides by three of the four sides dening said discharge opening and carried by said hopper for supporting said gate on opposite sides thereof, the gate supporting sides of said frame being of Z shape and extending lengthwise of thel direction of movement of saidgate with the upper iianges of said sides extending inwardly toward each other and constituting runways for said gate and the lower flanges of said sides extending outwardly and underlying the corresponding sides of said hopper, said three sides ofsaid hopper dening an integral weatherproof enclosure around the corresponding three sides of said frame and gate having no upwardly opening joint likely to permit entrance of water and contamination of the lading in the hopper.

, 7. -In an outlet assembly for a load containing hopper having a four sided discharge opening andv a correspondingly shaped sliding gate for closing said opening, a frame surrounded on three sides by three of the four sides defining said discharge opening and carried by said hopper for supporting said gate on opposite sides thereof and at one end in its closed position, the gate supporting sides and end of said frame being of Z shape with the upper flange of each underlying said gate and the lower flange of each underlying the corresponding sides of said hopper, said gate supporting sides of said hopits open position, said three sides of said hopper dening an integral weatherproof enclosure around the corresponding three sides off said frame and gate having no upwardly opening joint likely to permit entrance of water and contamination of the lading in the hopper.

8. In a discharge outlet for a hopper comprising, in combination, a four sided frame denning the hopper opening, and a gate slidably mounted on said frame for closing said opening, said gate being reinforced on its underside by depending ribs extending lengthwise in the direction. of movement of said gate and spaced fromeach other transversely of said direction of movement thereby providing side panels and a central panel each of substantial width, said central panel having rack teeth extending between said longitudinal ribs, and plate members underlying said side panels and extending between the ends of said rack teeth and the sides of said gate.

9. A rectangular sliding gate for closing the opening of a discharge hopper, said gate along three sides underneath having a horizontal bearing surface, a resilient laterally compressible tubular gasket extending adjacent said surface, and a chambered portion for receiving and holding said gasket, said chambered portion including an indented portion above the plane of said bearing surface and adjacent thereto, a vertical wall adjacent said indented portion and spaced from said bearing surface, and a plate section extending laterally from the lower margin of said vertical wall to underlie said bearing surfaceand spaced therefrom to provide an opening leading to said chambered portion the width of which is less than the diameter of said gasket thereby;I necessitating compression of said gasket on insertion or removal thereof. l

19. A sliding gate for a four sided discharge opening of a load containing hopper, said gate along three sides underneath having a horizontal bearing surface for cooperation with a supporting surface on said hopper, and a compressible tubular gasket adjacent said bearing-surface for cooperation with downwardly extending faces on said hopper adjacent said supporting surface, said gasket being retained in an open-sided recess in said gate the open side of which has a width less than the diameter of .said gasket thereby necessitating compression of said gasket on insertion or removal thereof.

GEORGE B. DOREY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

